Juki DDL-8700--top & bobbin thread won't hold together for stitch

My machine was working fine and then I change the needle and now the threads will not make a stitch. I sew over the fabric and see the needle with top thread going through the fabric, but it doesn't pick up the bobbin thread and make a stitch. I have inserted another needle, but same problem exists. I have checked and the needle is inserted correctly, the machine is threaded correctly and I have played around with the bobbin and top thread tensions, but nothing works! Help please!

Your needle bar needs to be moved up or down a tad depending on what kind of needle you are using. My juki manual tells me that if I am using a DB-1 needle the needle bar needs to be set at the second notch from the bottom of the needle bar. I think there are 4 notches on the needle bar...they are hard to see but they are there. Once again if you have a manual for your machine there should be a section on "timing" and that is where they talk about the kind of needle and the needle bar setting. Yikes...I am learning all this myself right now. Good luckYour needle bar needs to be moved up or down a tad depending on what kind of needle you are using. My juki manual tells me that if I am using a DB-1 needle the needle bar needs to be set at the second notch from the bottom of the needle bar. I think there are 4 notches on the needle bar...they are hard to see but they are there. Once again if you have a manual for your machine there should be a section on "timing" and that is where they talk about the kind of needle and the needle bar setting. Yikes...I am learning all this myself right now. Good luck

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Check to be sure you are using needles and thread that are compatible with the fabric. Generally, finer threads will work better on fine fabrics along with a smaller needle. Be sure to change needles frequently as dull, bent, or nicked needles will cause very frustrating issues.All About Needles

Remove the thread completely from the machine. RAISE the presser foot and rethread from the beginning, making sure the thread path is correct.

Some machines have a presser foot pressure adjustment (consult the owner's manual). Adjusting the pressure that the presser foot applies to the fabric & feed dogs is helpful when sewing especially fine or heavy fabric. Also, when sewing fine fabrics, loosening the tension could be beneficial.

Changing presser feet may also help, ie try using a straight stitch foot vs a presser foot for zig-zag stitching.

Something else you can try is finding a presser foot with a teflon finish or a roller foot that will glide or roll with the fabric through the machine. Even if you can't find a brand name presser foot for your particular machine, an adapter shank can probably be found that would allow you to use snap-on feet of all different designs and uses. Provides a lot of choices for presser feet for less than purchasing a brand-name presser foot. There are snap-on kits available on eBay and other auction sites.

Some machines also can take a straight-stitch needle plate--usually an additional accessory that can be purchased. The hole where the needle penetrates the needle plate to access the bobbin thread is actually a small round hole. With a zig-zag needle plate, the hole the needle penetrates is a wide rectangular hole that can allow fine fabrics to be pulled down through the hole. Zig-zag capable machines usually have a zig-zag needle plate as standard.

needle too small or machine out of time. to time machine theres a mark on needle bar. lower needle bar till mark shows and raise bar till even with bar guide. take off feeder plate so u can see needle in relation to hook. when mark on needel bar is even with bar guide the hook should be 1/16 fron passing the needle. if not loosen 3 screws and trial and error it to get it right. use a small screwdriver and tighten just on screw when u hab aglined the hook to needle. do a full rotation and watch where needle is and needle bar mark. needel should be as clost to hook without touching.

machine is out of time and u probably have burrs on the hook since you broke the plate with a needle probably from pulling fabric and bending the needle. you instruction manual will tell u how to time machine and its really very simple. all u have to do is take off feeder plate, loosen the 3 screws that hold the hook then lower the needle with the wheel until the needle just starts to rise. bring the loose hook point to i/16 " fron the needle and tighten hook screws. machine must be tilted back to do this whole operation. it helps to have a short screwdriver to tighten the hook screws. remove burrs with lite emory paper stroking in the sale direction as the hook.

Hello Daniel, I suggest you start with a new needle. Back off the needle thread tension and the bobbin thread tension to a minimum and see how it sews. If it does not ravel the thread, you can increase the tensions until you acquire the stitch you want.

Cut the thread above the needle eye and rock the handwheel back and forth sharply to cut the thread with the sewing hook. If that doesn't work pretty promptly, undo the needle clamp and turn the handwheel, which should raise the needle bar. Then get into the bobbin case area and try to remove the bobbin case, cutting any threads you can. Keep rocking the handwheel and trying to pull out the needle (pliers help!), and eventually everything will loosen up.

Next, clean and lubricate the area under the needle plate and the shuttle, and reassemble. Put in a brand new needle, right way around and fully up in the machine. Load the bobbin case with a well-wound bobbin, and rethread the top of the machine and you should be good to go.